Multiple databases definitions

Sometimes your site grows beyond Joomla!. A forum, a torrent tracker, a custom script... Some of them get to be installed in a database of their own, not as tables in the same database as the one Joomla! is using. If you really want to take a full site backup, you really need these databases backed up as well. The solution to this is the Multiple databases definitions option of JoomlaPack. You can define an unlimited number of additional MySQL databases which will get to be backed up (and restored!) along with your regular Joomla! database.

[Note]Note

The settings on this page are defined per profile. Make sure you have selected the desired profile in the Control Panel page.

[Important]Important

Backup and restoration of multiple databases is only supported in conjunction with the Full backup mode. Also note that these databases will be dumped verbatim; no filters will be applied and the prefixes will not be turned into their abstract form. For instance, jos_banner will remain jos_banner, it won't be turned into #__banner.

At first, you are presented with a familiar Joomla! grid view, listing all database definitions. Clicking on an entry will open the database definition editor page. Selecting a row - by marking its check box on the left hand column - and clicking the Copy button will create a verbatim copy of this definition.

In order to add a database definition, click on the New button, in the toolbar below Joomla!'s back-end menu. This will also lead you to the database definition editor page.

You have to specify the following parameters for connecting to a database:

Host

The MySQL server hostname. This is usually localhost, but many commercial hosts (especially those with server clusters) deviate from this rule. If unsure, consult your host's domain control panel or ask for their help.

Port

If your host's using a different port than the default, you have to define it here. If you do not understand what this is all about, just leave it blank; you probably don't even need this.

Username

Supply the user name you use to connect to the database. This might or might not be the same as the user name for your hosting account! Check with your host if you are unsure, we won't be able to help you with this.

Password

Supply the password you use to connect to the database. This might or might not be the same as the password for your hosting account! Check with your host if you are unsure, we won't be able to help you with this.

Database

Supply the database name. Usually, you have to check with your host's domain control panel or otherwise contact your host's support to get this information.

Clicking the Check connectivity to database button will attempt to connect to the database using the supplied settings and will inform you on the results.

[Note]Note

This feature requires AJAX. If your settings interfere with AJAX reponses sent back to the browser you will get no feedback upon clicking the button.

The Save button will apply the settings and get you back on the Multiple databases definitions page, while the Cancel button will discard any changes and return to the Multiple databases definitions page.